Three carloads of Masons (two from Monticello and one from Fallsburgh) journeyed to New York City on Saturday, March 13th and in the evening returned home satisfied that a day at the Grand Lodge Temple at 71 West 23rd Street was well spent.

The trip was arranged by Wor. Bro. Leland W. Silvieus, district Lodge service man as part of a program suggested by the Board of General Activities to acquaint Masons with those in charge of the various departments of Grand Lodge as well as to familiarize the brethren with the many services at their disposal.

Upon arrival at the Temple our party ascended to the 14th floor via elevator where the library and museum are located and where files of newspaper clippings about Lodges throughout the state and much more, may be found. On this floor is also the office of R.W. Carl Jucatz, chairman of the Board of General Activities and the librarian, Bro. W. Walker.

After spending some time viewing the numerous Masonic oddities, relics and documents which are kept on the fourteenth floor we visited the new Grand Lodge Secretary. We say new. He succeeded M. W. Bro. Charles Johnson, who is now Grand Secretary Emeritis, last May). R.W. Bro. George R. Irving we were told is a child specialist of renown but his love for Masonry was so great that he found it possible to serve the Craft as Grand Secretary when the opportunity presented itself. R.W. Bro. Irving is very friendly and spent considerable time with us explaining his work, pointing out some of the numerous improvements made in his department since he took office. It was noted that great care had been taken in a recently inaugurated project of preserving Grand Lodge records. These include ancient and valuable documents such as the charter which gives Masonry the authority to work in New York State.

In the Masonic Club Room we were feted to a dinner with all the trimmings including refreshments before and after. Bro. Silvie us enjoyed it immensely and if we are not mistaken he asked for a second cup of coffee. The enjoyable part about the dinner was the check which was swooped up by Bro. Jucatz. It's on the house, he said. Not one of us dared to dispute him.

With such hospitality it was only proper that we accept Bro. Jucatz's invitation to return for further instruction. When he seated us all in the library and summonded Bro. Walker to his side with a stack of books and other what-nots in front of them at least one of use expected the worst and settled down in a most comfortable chair. As the lectures began the drowsiness, which quite often overtakes one after a big meal, was very much in evidence but despite the discomforts in the early part of these proceedings we must admit that both Bros. Jucatz and Walker had our undivided attention before their talks had ended. We returned home happy and both our minds and bodies had been well nourished.

For further information about this very much worthwhile trip ask anyone of the following for they were there:

Leland W. Silvius, John M. Boyd, Hugh R. Richmond, John G. Bruce, A.O. Benton and Thomas W. Southworth. Our Senior Warden forgot to wind his alarm clock and therefore missed all city bound vehicles. He nevertheless was not forgotten by the brethren who very obligingly signed him up for a Grand Lodge reading course sinular to those being enjoyed now by all others who went to the city that day.

Sam Herbert, David Hecht, and Chas. Tarrow comprised the delegation from Fallsburgh Lodge.

[LODGE HISTORY]